Grace Louise Troxell: Complete Biography & Hidden Bob Hope’s Connection

The story of Grace Louise Troxell is one filled with history, mystery, and long-overlooked details that connect her life to one of the most famous entertainers of the 20th century—Bob Hope. Yet, when researching her life, one immediately discovers that there were actually two different women named Grace Louise Troxell, born only one year apart. This has caused decades of confusion for family historians, biographers, and researchers trying to understand which one was connected to Bob Hope and which one lived a completely separate life. The most historically relevant woman is Grace Louise (Troxell) Halper (1911–1976), the first and lesser-known wife of Bob Hope, whose story hides in marriage records, census documents, and the archives of early entertainment history. The second woman, Grace Louise Troxell (1912–1992), lived a completely different life in Ohio and had no connection to Bob Hope.

Understanding the full biography of Grace Louise Troxell is important not only to preserve accuracy but also because her brief marriage to Bob Hope shaped a hidden chapter of his early career. By exploring her childhood, her identity, her marriages, and her legacy, we gain a deeper appreciation for the women behind major entertainers and why their contributions deserve to be remembered with respect and accuracy.

Profile Summary:  Grace Louise Troxell

Who Was Grace Louise Troxell?

Grace Louise Troxell, born in Chicago, Illinois, was a woman whose life intertwined with the American entertainment scene during the early 1930s. Born to Edward L. Troxell and Mary E. McGinnis, she worked as a secretary and sometimes performer. At a young age, she became connected to the vibrant world of vaudeville, eventually crossing paths with the rising entertainer Leslie Townes “Bob” Hope. Their relationship became a hidden chapter of Hollywood’s history, as the two secretly married in 1933. Her early life, marriages, and later years reflect the story of a woman who moved between public performance and private life, finally passing away in 1976 in Las Vegas. Today, her name is of historical importance because she remains a key figure in understanding Bob Hope’s early personal life.

Early Life and Family Background

Birth and Childhood

Grace Louise Troxell was born on July 6, 1911, in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, as confirmed by birth records from Cook County. She was the daughter of Edward L. Troxell and Mary E. McGinnis, a couple of working-class background living in a rapidly growing city. Chicago in the early 1900s was a place of industrial expansion, lively theaters, and a booming entertainment industry. Grace’s early years were shaped by a household that lived within this culture of opportunity and change. According to the 1920 U.S. Census, Grace, then eight years old, lived in Chicago with her father Edward. Growing up in this environment exposed her to both the excitement of city life and the challenges of a working-class family. Though not much is recorded about her early schooling, it is clear that she grew up in a vibrant, artistic, and energetic city where the entertainment world was rapidly evolving.

Education and Early Career

While specific records about Grace’s schooling are limited, it is widely accepted that she completed her basic education in Chicago, where she eventually worked as a secretary. Secretarial work in the early 1900s often required excellent typing and organizational skills, and it was one of the few professional roles commonly available to women at the time. Grace’s job placed her within a network of performers, managers, and theater workers, which may have led to her involvement in small entertainment roles. Before meeting Bob Hope, she had enough experience in the performing arts to appear on stage with him occasionally. Her early exposure to vaudeville—a popular form of entertainment featuring music, comedy, and theatre—set the stage for the turning point in her life when she met a young comedian named Bob Hope, who was then trying to build his name on the national circuit.

Relationship With Bob Hope

How Grace Louise Troxell Met Bob Hope

Grace Louise Troxell met Bob Hope during the era of vaudeville, a period when performers traveled from city to city, entertaining crowds with humor, music, and dance. Vaudeville theaters were loud, colorful, and full of diverse talent struggling to make a name for themselves. Grace and Bob Hope performed together at times, sharing headliner positions with entertainers like Joe Howard at theaters such as the Pace Theatre. Working closely and spending long hours on the road helped the two develop a bond that grew into romance. Their partnership allowed Grace to perform occasionally, giving her a small but meaningful place in the entertainment world.

Their Secret Marriage (1933)

On January 25, 1933, Grace Louise Troxell and Bob Hope were married in Erie, Pennsylvania, as recorded in Pennsylvania county marriage documents. The marriage was kept secret, possibly because Bob Hope was at the beginning of his entertainment career and feared that a public marriage might affect his professional image. At the time, entertainers often hid personal relationships to avoid losing appeal with audiences or producers. Grace was twenty-one, and Bob Hope was twenty-nine when they married, both young and pursuing uncertain futures in show business. The secrecy surrounding their marriage later became a controversial topic among historians and biographers.

The Hidden Divorce

Despite their emotional connection, the marriage did not last long. Records show that the divorce was finalized in November 1934, less than two years after the wedding. The exact reasons remain unclear, but many historians believe that Bob Hope’s rising fame and his growing closeness to singer Dolores Reade played major roles. During the time he was still legally married to Grace, Bob Hope began publicly claiming to be married to Dolores, creating decades of confusion. Dolores and Bob Hope always stated they married in early 1934, but the official timeline proves otherwise. This conflict has led to debates among biographers who argue over whether Bob Hope intentionally hid his first marriage from the public.

Did Bob Hope Support Grace Later in Life?

There are several reports and rumors suggesting that Bob Hope continued to support Grace financially later in her life. Some sources claim that he never fully forgot her and occasionally sent money to help her during difficult times. However, there is no official documentation confirming these claims. The rumors continue to circulate because many who knew Bob Hope described him as a man who secretly assisted people throughout his life. Whether out of guilt or gratitude, it is possible that Grace remained someone he remembered even after building a life with Dolores.

Stage Career and Public Life

Louise Troxell as a Performer

Grace Louise Troxell’s time as a performer was brief but significant. She performed alongside Bob Hope during his early vaudeville years, appearing on stage in comedic and musical routines. One of their well-known appearances was at the Pace Theatre, where they headlined with Joe Howard. Vaudeville demanded quick humor, sharp timing, and strong stage presence, and Grace was capable enough to perform in front of large audiences. However, as Bob Hope’s career accelerated, Grace’s involvement in entertainment slowly faded. She eventually left the stage world entirely as her life moved in different directions.

Public Perception and Media Coverage

During her relationship with Bob Hope, Grace was not widely known to the public. The press focused primarily on Bob’s rising stardom, leaving very little mention of Grace anywhere in early media archives. After Bob began publicly appearing with Dolores Reade, Grace virtually disappeared from public records concerning show business. Her story became overshadowed by Bob Hope’s long marriage to Dolores, which lasted nearly seventy years. Because of this, Grace’s contributions never received the recognition they deserved, and only modern genealogical research has brought her name back into historical discussions.

Marriage to David R. Halper

Marriage & Household Records

After her marriage to Bob Hope ended, Grace Louise Troxell later married David R. Halper, marking a new chapter in her life. According to the 1940 Census, Grace, then twenty-seven, lived in Chicago with David Halper as his wife. The 1950 Census again lists her, at age thirty-six, still married to Halper and living a quiet life in Chicago. These records reflect that after her early involvement with entertainment, Grace transitioned into a stable domestic life, far from the world of show business that once connected her to Bob Hope.

Life in Chicago After Bob Hope

Grace’s life after Bob Hope appears to have been considerably private. She lived with David Halper in Chicago for many years, focusing on home life and possibly continuing clerical work. There is no official record confirming whether Grace had children, and most documents only reference her and her husband. Her withdrawal from the public eye suggests she preferred a quieter lifestyle after the complexities of her early adult years. Though her life became more private, her story continues to gain attention through historical research and genealogy communities.

Death, Burial, and Legacy

Death Information

Grace Louise Troxell (Halper) died in November 1976 in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada at the age of sixty-five. This information appears in the Social Security Death Index, verifying her time and place of passing. Why she moved to Las Vegas is not fully known, though many retirees relocated there for warmer weather and affordability.

Burial

Grace is buried in Palm Downtown Cemetery in Las Vegas, as listed in her Find a Grave memorial entry. The site includes basic details such as her name, birth year, and death year, but like much of her life, her grave remains quiet and largely unnoticed by the public.

Her Legacy

Although Grace Louise Troxell’s time in the spotlight was brief, her legacy is important because she marks a significant chapter in Bob Hope’s early life. Her story also reflects the often overlooked experiences of women in show business during the vaudeville era. Today, historians and genealogists study her life to correct misinformation and preserve the truth about her identity and contributions. Her life is a reminder that behind every major entertainer are stories of people who helped shape their early journeys.

The Other Grace Louise Troxell (1912–1992)

Because two women shared nearly identical names, their histories have often been mixed together. The other Grace Louise Troxell was born in 1912 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to William Asa Troxell and Katherine Hummeldorf. She married Herbert Koppmeier in 1940 and died in 1992 in Ohio. She had no known connection to Bob Hope or the entertainment world.

To clarify:

This distinction helps prevent confusion and ensures accurate historical reporting.

Historical Records and Sources (E-E-A-T)

• Birth Record – Illinois, Cook County Birth Register (Record #25321).

• 1920 Census – Household of Edward L. Troxell, Chicago, Illinois.

• Marriage Record (1933) – Pennsylvania County Marriage Records (VFQR-NPB).

• 1940 Census – Grace Halper living with David R. Halper.

• 1950 Census – Grace J. Halper in Chicago, age thirty-six.

• Social Security Death Index – Death in November 1976, Clark County, Nevada.

• Find a Grave Memorial – ID 35523755, Palm Downtown Cemetery, Las Vegas.

Timeline Summary

• 1911 – Born in Chicago, Illinois

• 1920 – Living with father Edward Troxell in Chicago

• 1933 – Secretly married Bob Hope

• 1934 – Divorce finalized

• 1940 – Married David R. Halper

• 1950 – Living in Chicago with Halper

• 1976 – Died in Las Vegas

Conclusion

The life of Grace Louise Troxell is a fascinating blend of entertainment history, hidden relationships, and important genealogical details. As Bob Hope’s first wife, she played a meaningful role in his early life, yet her story remained buried for decades because of secrecy, public image management, and limited documentation. By studying her life through census records, marriage files, and historical sources, we can finally appreciate the truth about her identity and understand how she influenced a legendary entertainer’s youth. Her life also reminds us of the many women whose stories were overshadowed by the fame of the men they supported. Preserving her history ensures that her name and contributions are remembered with accuracy and respect.

FAQs About Grace Louise Troxell